Health Tip: Understanding Migraines

Some 39 million men, women and children in the United States and 1 billion people worldwide have migraines, the Migraine Research Foundation says.

Nine of 10 people aren’t able to work during a migraine, the foundation adds.

Here are some additional migraine facts:

Migraine is a neurologic disease with incapacitating neurologic symptoms.
Migraines are typically characterized by a severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. In some cases, both sides of the head are affected.
Attacks often are accompanied by one or more of these symptoms: visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to sound, light, touch and smell; and tingling in the extremities or face.
About 25 percent of people with migraines also have a visual disturbance called an aura, which typically lasts less than an hour.
Attacks tend to last between four and 72 hours.

Source: HealthDay